STRUCTURE-BIODEGRADATION RELATIONSHIPS OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS .1. EFFECT OF DEGREE OF OXIDATION ON BIODEGRADABILITY OF CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS

The biodegradability of oxidized starch and inulin has been studied in relation to the degree of periodate oxidation to dialdehyde derivativ es, by measuring oxygen consumption and mineralization to carbon dioxi de. A higher degree of oxidation of dialdehyde starch and dialdehyde i nulin results in a lower rate at which the polymers are biodegraded. I t is demonstrated that the biodegradation rate of dialdehyde inulin de rivatives decreases more than that of equivalent starch derivatives. T he differences in biodegradation behavior between dialdehyde starch an d dialdehyde inulin, resulting from comparable modifications, are disc ussed in terms of conformational structure.